Published: July 17, 2008 10:19 am            

It’s back-to-school time: Alumni throws reunion

Some of us dread our high school class reunion — we’re not quite in shape or are afraid we won’t be able to remember an old classmate — but if you graduated from Zionsville Community High School, the all-class reunion on July 26 will be one big party.

Reunion organizer and ’72 grad Jim Haines said attendance at last year’s reunion was about 1,200 people and he expects this year to be even bigger. Like last year, the reunion will be at the Palomino Ballroom but instead of one outdoor tent, there will be two. There also will be two DJs — ’72 grad Paula Normand and ’07 grad Matt Starkey — playing music from different generations, light appetizers and three cash bars.

Haines, who played basketball, track and baseball (winning the ’72 baseball sectionals) in high school, and was senior class president like his son and ’07 grad, Jack, said he planned the 2005 all-class reunion because he attended one with his former girlfriend in college and thought it was a great way for people to meet graduates from other classes. He said people also enjoy seeing former teachers, principals and coaches.

During the planning of the 2005 all-class reunion, Jim Haines and reunion volunteers created the Zionsville Alumni Association, which keeps graduates up-to-date on former classmates and ZCHS news. The association also gave out the Soaring Eagle Hall of Fame award at the 2005 reunion to former ZCHS principal Oliver Warner who had served Zionsville Community Schools from the 1950s through the 1980s. Committee head Ralph Stacy said committee members select nominees based on post-high-school achievements for student nominees, and school contributions for faculty, administration and staff. This year, the award committee will honor six people before the reunion at 2 p.m. in the LGI room of the high school.

Tickets for the reunion are $10 at the door and free for association members. The cost to join the association is $10 for one year, $25 for two years and $100 for a lifetime. Visit www.zionsvillealumni.org to join or for more information on the all-class reunion.

        

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